www.laererforum.net

Analyzing problem explication, and a model for developing

categories for understanding the counselling process.

Jarle SjoevollProfessor

Øystein LundResearch Fellow

Bodö University College

www.laererforum.net

The purposes of our project:

1. To develop a system for online guidance for Teachers.1. german teachers2. norwegian teachers

2. To obtain knowlege on online guidance and counselling1. Expectations to an online counselling service2. The actual use of the site 3. Evaluation4. Developing models for online guidance and counselling

www.laererforum.net

Other professional aspects 1. Developing school as a learning organization2. Strengthen competence in obtaining – and giving help3. Using principles from ”Blended learning”4. Face to face and online – similarities and differences?5. Focus on some spesific aspects;

1. The teachers using “Teacher Forum”2. The counsellers and the counselling3. From being student teacher to being teacher4. Online professional guidance for developing inclusive education5. Professional collaboration between small district schools

www.laererforum.net

The paper: 1. Analyzing problem statements passed from teachers to

”Teachers Forum”.1. What issues are brought forward?2. How do the users of the forum express their questions?3. What do the users of ”Teachers forum” expect, and

request?

2. Developing a model...1. To help us understand the postings better?2. As a help to give better guidance and counselling?

www.laererforum.net

Theoretical aspects 1. An phenomenological approach and understanding (Husserl...)

1. ”We know the world through experience”2. Liberation from the understanding of an ”objective world”3. ”Intention” – individuals seek to give all experience a meaning4. ”Essence” – there is a core of meaning that is collectively shared

2. A social constructivist approach to learning (Vygotskij...)• ”Learning happens when the culture is incorporated within the person”• ”Knowledge is constructed in the meeting between people”• ”....with language as bearer of the collective understanding”

www.laererforum.net

Methodology 1. A phenomenological approach

1. ”A living methodology and a dynamic inquiry”2. ”How a phenomenon is percieved for us from a first person

perspective.....”3. The problem statement is also a ”phenomenon” – percieved by

the counseller...

2. Grounded theory: Empirical level -> Theory building1. Open coding - cathegorizing2. Axial coding – seeing relations between cathegories3. Selective coding – ”discovering” the core ”storyline”

www.laererforum.net

The nature of online communication...

1. Habermas:1. Linguistic expression2. Action as companion or successor of of linguistic expression3. Expression through the body, mimicry and gestures

2. Bateson:• Analogue coding• Iconic coding• Digital coding

3. Korsgaard Sorensen: ”Virtuality promotes reflection”

www.laererforum.net

Design and method1. 18 randomly chosen postings from teachers2. Divided into ”meaning-units”

1. a sentence...2. a part of a sentence...3. two or more sentences...

3. Analyzed with a ”Grounded Theory”- based - ”Inductive” approach, adapted for this spesific purpose.

4. Validation

www.laererforum.net

Design and method...Example.... (”open coding”)I`m a female teacher, at 3. grade (code-ps)In my class there is one student with aggressive behaviour(code-dp) His family moved here threee months ago (code-ip)He is shouting and throwing books when he fails to solve the problems in

mathemathics. (code-ip)Perhaps I expect too much from him? (code-or)His parents keep telling me he`s just lazy, (code-ip)but I think he is struggeling with some difficulties. (code-rr)What should I do? (code-ra)

www.laererforum.net

What we ”found...” Cathegory Number of statem In number of postings

Present background information 90 18Description of problem situation 67 17Presentation of own position 18 11Description of own role in probl. situation 23 11Presenting own opinions on the situation 7 5Invitation to reflection on issues 9 6Critical perspective on own practice 8 5Recuest for (normative) advice 19 14Request for information on prof. issues 8 4Describing emotional reactions to the problem 13 8

www.laererforum.net

Approaching a model? Cathegory Number* ”Axial coding”

Present background information 90/18

Problem description

Description of problem situation 67/17

Presentation of own position 18/11

Description of own role in probl. situation 23/11

Presenting own opinions on the situation 7/5

Invitation to reflection on issues 9/6Reflective statementsCritical perspective on own practice 8/5

Recuest for (normative) advice 19/14Seeking professional supportRequest for information on prof. issues 8/4

Describing emotional reactions to the problem 13/8 Seeking personal support

www.laererforum.net

Reflecting on what we ”discovered”...(”Selective coding”.....)

1.Where are we – on these axes?1.Dialogue - monologue2.Reflection - instrumentalism 3. Individual perspective – system perspective4.Personal support – knowledge building

2.How can we use our knowledge?

www.laererforum.net

And what could come next?Taking a similar look at the responses given to the same 18 postings.

What can they tell us?

Analyzing all responds given to the same 18 postings

- from the team of counsellers

- from peer teachers

- Let`s take a look...

Cathegory Number** Main Cathegory

Commenting his/her own guidance 11Meta – communicationCommenting the problem statement as such 6

Encouraging to further dialogue 12

Giving emotional support 15AcknowledgementAcknowledging consultees actions 16

Acknowledging consultees judgement 1

Reference to problem description 24Problem – explorationSupplementary questions to problem description 19

Re-formulation og problem description 16

Reflective questions 22Reflective feedbackAlternative perspectives 6

Pointing to ways of understanding problem 18

Generalized professional statements 105Knowledge disseminationOpinions towards issues in problem description 51

General information related to problem description 13

Pointing to possible options of action 70Normative, concrete adviceNormative, concrete advice 47

Questions - with one single option 4

Statements presupposing one spesific action 3

www.laererforum.net

Other ways to obtain information...

1. Questionnnaire1. Background and expectations2. Use (Behaviour)3. Evaluation

• Interviews• Opinions• Knowledge• Behaviour• Experience

www.laererforum.net

Conclusions1. It is possible to build models based on systematical elaboration on, and analysis

of postings to the “Teachers Forum”2. We think that such models can contribute to a greater extent of reflection on the

process counselling and guidance.3. It is necessary to reflect that online counselling has some basic differences

compared to face-to-face counselling4. Like in face-to-face counselling, we find a great variety of expectation and

approaches to the field of counselling and guidance.5. It is necessary to use complementary methods to obtain information, for instance

research interviews.6. A phenomenological approach to this field, and a social constructivist

understandling of learing has proved to be fruitful in our research so far.

Summer landscape just outside the city

Thank you